It was one of those days where I felt more like Mommy Dearest and less like my desired, Queen LaDiva. Half way through dinner, I heard the sound of freedom…the electric garage door opened which meant the Finkster was home.
I stewed thoughts of, “When he gets in here, I can’t wait to download what HIS kids have done….he’s in for an ear load for sure.”
“Hey babe, how was your day?” I asked but was cocked and ready to fire my mouth off.
“Better now,” he exhaled and pulled me into a tight embrace.
Like a flash of lighting, I remembered the two emails we exchanged during the day. An impromptu hour-long-turned-four-hour-long meeting (to be finished via teleconference at 9pm that night), intense pressure from a new project that’s had more twists than a Bavarian pretzel, and lest I not forget that the day before my honey received six more shots in his back, to compliment the physical therapy and prescription regiment. He didn’t come home early to chillax, but to don his coach’s uniform and scram out the door.
Sometimes I can be just so selfish. 
I have an incredible husband and that night, he needed a pass.
I de-cocked my mouth from firing position and answered his question with the abundant love that he gave me just moments ago. I replied, “Better now” as I squeezed him a little tighter.
Sometimes we need a pass.
That night, my honey needed a pass.
Sometimes we need to vent when we’re feeling bent. But, other times we don’t need to stay stuck in the yuck. Someday, I’m going to be a rapper… 
Sometimes all we need to do is be “better now” and hug it out.
Will you be “better now” and give someone a pass just once? Maybe it’s your spouse, or maybe it’s a friend, but a big hug might just be all that it takes to make the day “better now”.
Steph, Wonderful post! I feel more energy now after a long day myself. What a wonderful picture of Dave and Cal. Please say hi to the Finkster.
Kathy
Thanks sis – we’re blessed with great men in our lives! The Finkster says “Hi!” right back at ya and then followed with, “When’s James getting an assignment out here!”
A good word indeed….Thanks Steph. =)
Thanks my sister!
so you’re a poet and didn’t know it! I really like that expression “sometimes we need to vent when we’re feeling bent, but other times we don’t need to stay stuck in the yuck. ” “Give someone a the pass”. how are you? “Better now.” This is my “word” for the day. THANKS. And, P.S. now I will look up the UTube for the “old” song, Bent by Rob Thomas/Matchbox 20!!! Thanks for the sharing and inspiration, always.
So perhaps I am a poet and didn’t know it…
A perfect reminder for me today. Our first weekday into Spring Break, I am making Italian Wedding Soup with my kids and realize I don’t have all the ingredients. I rush them to get dressed and ready so we can go shopping, tell them over and over to not embarrass me, and come out with my oldest son still waiting in line. With a bundle of his change, he bought me a beautiful plant, just because … and I feel like I should apologize for assuming the worst would happen. Sometimes, even without noticing, I expect the worst … and by sheer belief, will the worst things to happen to me. Your post gives me hope … and those flowers from my son, too … life can be so much sweeter if we get out of the negativity! Hugs are better than any other medicine I could take today! Thanks for the reminder, my friend!
My heart just melted to a puddle reading about your “just because” surprise flowers…that’s a Mommy milestone moment!
Steph! I totally needed this today. I completely unloaded Mommy Dearest style on Dylan this morning thinking that he was just having a typical toddler tantrum. A couple hours passed and the poor kid has a horrible fever! UGH! All I can do is hug him and tell him I’m sorry and hope he gives me a pass. How do you always know????
~Jessica
I’m getting the sweats just thinking of the toddler tantrums…there was no way you could have known that he had a fever to compliment his current stage of life. And I know you, and that he’s getting the king treatment. That’s the thing Jessica, we ALL blow it from time to time. I’m just as committed to kissing a boo-boo as I am to going back to my kids and apologizing for my loud words. HUGS!
Steph – thanks for the reminder that sometimes we need to “de-cock” the mouth from our complaints and let our hubbies be “better now” at the end of the day! I enjoyed seeing you (briefly) on Thursday night. I hope you enjoyed the evening as much as I did. See you in May!
-Kerri
Thursday night was the highlight of my week…getting to hug great friends like you, make a few new ones, have a slice of chocolate cake and hear Ellie!!!